If Colorado can pay the National Guard to continue work on flood areas, (Denver Post, Oct. 1, “With shutdown, Colorado will pay costs of National Guard flood work”) what would prevent me from paying a U.S. Park Service employee his/her wages to escort our small wedding party into the park where a wedding is scheduled, paid and permitted at Sand Dune Arch on Saturday, Oct. 5, 4:30 p.m., for a couple of hours? We’re not using the visitor center or any park facility. Moab’s Honorable Mayor Dave Sakrison is scheduled to officiate.

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.